6 Top Benefits & Side Effects Of Barley Water

Barley water also called Barli Ginjalu in Telugu, Jau Water in Hindi and Barley Thanni in Tamil has amazing health benefits. I remember my maternal grandfather drinking it every day, it was ritual he followed without fail. I remember asking him why he drank it, to which he smiled and replied that it kept him healthy. Now my grand father is no more, but writing this post brings back fond memories of him.

It has amazing health benefits and can be easily prepared at home. It can be used for treating I am still amazed at how simple home remedies can save us from lot of pain if had correctly and barley water is one such example especially for treating urinary tract infection.

Barley Water Health Benefits:

1. For UTI:

We use it to treat urinary tract infections in our village and it is very effective. Urinary tract infection usually occurs when bacteria enter the urethra and spread into the bladder, UTI can be very painful. Since barley has anti-bacterial properties, it helps treat the infection well.

Even pregnant women can drink barley water if they are suffering from urinary tract infections. Instead of taking antibiotics for UTI, try to drink barley water often throughout the day to get rid of it.

2. For Diabetic Patients:

Research on barley water has been proven to reduce glycemic response. The glycaemic response to food is the effect the food has on our blood glucose levels after consuming it. Our blood glucose and insulin rise after a meal but how much it rises depends on the food we eat, foods rich in fiber like barley generally reduce the glycemic response. If you are diabetic, try to consume barley water with the barley to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

3. For Weight Loss:

Since it is rich in fiber, barley keeps us satiated for a long time making it perfect for including in weight loss plan. Instead of drinking fruit juice which spikes our blood sugar levels, try including barley water in your diet. Don’t strain out the barley and also add in sautéed very finely cut vegetables in to make it more filling.

4. For Skin Care:

Drinking barley water often and applying it topically on the acne-affected area reduces inflammation and has a soothing effect. It is rich in antioxidants which help fight off free radicals. Try to make a thicker liquid if you are applying it on the skin. You can also use plain barley water (without anything added to it) to mix face packs and scrubs too.

5. For Immunity:

It helps improve immunity, in a clinical study done during covid, 100 covid positive patients were randomly allocated to receive routine treatment along with or without 250 ml barley water. The length of hospital stay was 4 days lesser in patients who received barley water. It is also a powerful diuretic, diuretics are referred to as water pills, they help our body get rid of excess water and salt so they are very useful in conditions like edema and blood pressure.

6. Improves Digestion:

Barley is rich in fiber, 100 grams of cooked pearl barley contains around 3.8 grams of soluble fiber especially beta glucan which is good for our gut health, it also has a soothing effect on our stomach. If you are suffering from constipation, try including unstrained barley water regularly in your diet, within a few days, you will be relieved of constipation.

Barley Water Side Effects:

Unstrained barley water is rich in fiber and when you consume too much fiber at once, it can lead to bloating and stomach discomfort. Start with 1/2 cup and work your way up over time. Barley is gluten-containing grain so people suffering from celiac disease should avoid it.

How To Make Barley Water At Home?

METHOD:
1. Wash barley 2 to 3 times and soak it in water for 1 to 2 hours, this helps barley cook faster.

2. Strain again, add water, and let it boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the flame and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Add a piece of fresh ginger to it during the last 5 minutes. Don’t pound the ginger, adding ginger like this gives a mild ginger flavor which gives a nice taste to barley water. It also aids in digestion.

4. Once the barley is cooked, add few drops of lemon juice to it. You can either strain out the barley or leave it in, I would suggest leaving the barley in if you are a diabetic patient or while including it in a weight loss diet plan.

NOTES:

This tastes best when it is fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days.
Make sure to boil till barley is cooked well.
As far as I know, this is one of the best home remedies for urinary tract infections.
After adding lemon juice, if you prefer you can sweeten lightly with good-quality honey.
Boil it on low flame else it will spill over.
Don’t add too much lemon juice, it won’t taste nice.
If you are straining barley, use it in stews and salads or make a simple stir fry with it by frying onions, green chillies, garlic, steamed veggies, barley in little oil. Finally add salt, lots of coriander leaves, and a few drops of lemon juice to it.

barley water benefits

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